#'you think a dragon parts with her hoard so easily?'

[ghoulification]

fic description accurate mirilori shots

[beloveds-embrace]

Chubby reader x monster!141…. Chubby reader where you are at all-time-low after your ex cheated on you with the woman you had always been insecure of (she was everything you were not), so now you are just done. Done with him, with her, with your terrible work that forced you to come in even while sick, done with life.

So you go to a bar, and intend to fully drink yourself and all your sorrows away. You don’t even care enough to ask any friends to accompany you- they knew. They fucking knew. Calling them friends anymore is just stupid- and you don’t care enough to look around at anyone; you know you aren’t anyone’s preference either.

When a man, big and burly, curling horns and two big ass wings (maybe one of those dragon shifters? You know harpies have feathers, but the rest of your brain is too muddled) sits down next to you, you just ignore him and continue nursing your drink, trying your best to bite back the tears in your eyes.

“That’s enough now, love,” he croons, and much to your confusion, he takes the glass away from you. His voice is rough and rumbling, like thunder. Too hazy, too drunk, you don’t even care enough to get angry at him. No, your eyes fill with tears instead. “No, no, calm down. Let’s get you out of here, alright, little love?”

Another man joins your other side, just as big and burly but shorter than the dragon man who is making you tear up by holding your drink, your source of solace tonight, hostage in his hand. This one is a werewolf, his ears flicking in your direction much like his grin and his tail eagerly thumping to and fro against your chair.

“Sweet lass,” he croons, your teary eyes flicking towards him. You can see his hands clench in the air. Why, why, why- you just wanted to drink away. They are both so handsome, such a shame they clearly don’t like you and are just bothering you for the sake of bothering you, a fat woman in a miserable corner. “Enough tears and enough alcohol, aye, hen? Yer aff yer heid!”

His words are so strange, your tears momentarily pause. “What…?” You wonder outloud, shivering when you feel a warm breath across your neck, warming your skin. The dragon. His hand settles on your lower back, nudging you to get off the chair with them, and you feel like crying again. He probably can feel all the fat there, how horrible-

“Careful there, little love.” Dragon steadies you with two hands when you get dizzy, and with weak hands you try to swat at him, try to move away, but the werewolf is at your other side and keeping you pressed between them.

“S’op… stop callin’ me that,” you mumble. The tears roll down then. “Not- not funny, not at all-“

Two other hands on your back, a tail thumping against the back of your thighs, you are still led outside even as you babble about everything. Your size, your ex, the one your ex cheated, your work, your ex-

You want your damn drink back.

For their part, Price and Johnny didn’t think coming out for a drink tonight would lead to finding their last soulmate. The second they had entered the dinky bar, John had expected to need to puff out a deep, smoky breath to keep his nose clean from all the overwhelming smells and Johnny had prepared to to keep his nose happily pressed into John’s skin.

They hadn’t expected to smell you, something like the smell of stepping into a warm home after spending time out in winter, something like watching soft, golden sunlight stream into the nest room on a morning they spend sleeping in with Kyle and Simon. Like soulmate, like the last link of John’s hoarde and Johnny’s pack, and he has no doubt that you are Kyle’s nest and Simon’s. Simply his. A part of him just as you are a part of them.

Driven so wholly by instincts, seeing you drunk and crying pushing them even more into said instincts, they easily you herd along with them, back to their home. All explanations, everything else can wait until tomorrow. You are so soft to the touch, all tender and squishy, they already think you so perfect. In the back of the car, it doesn’t take seconds before you are dozing off and dead to the world, already so trusting.

By tomorrow morning, Simon would be easily able to track down where you live and get all your items. And also find that shitty ex of yours. John hasn’t yet decided if he wants to thank or beat him.

Watching the way Johnny holds you in his lap from the rearview mirror while he drives, hands squeezing your lovehandles with a low groan, mumbling about how much he already adores you, soft bonnie hen, all theirs- John decides he doesn’t give a single fuck about your ex at the moment. He needs to hold you between his arms and wings, in the comfort of his nest.

Fuck, he might end up breaking more than just a few speed limits.

Part two

[whereserpentswalk]

Descriptions of the individual member of each species you'll be dating is below this cut:

1 the vampire: a young vampire (they're 800, but anything below 1000 is young to vampires) who recently moved near you. They're less humanoid then most vampires they know, lacking any sex characteristics, having a somewhat elongated looking body, and having a mouth filled with sharp angler fish like teeth that can open much wider then it looks. They act very chill and down to earth, having lived long enough to not have many worries. They'll probably play guitar for you.

2 the faerie: a noble woman of the autumn court whose been ruling since long before your ansestors walked down from their trees. Her true form is a massive spider like monster with a deer skull for a head, but she can take the form of a tall woman in a black dress if you'd rather. She tends to be nice, but has a problem with thinking of mortals as if they're cute little children. She'll probably give you headpats.

3 the cyborg: a cyborg who was created as a warroir back before the fall of Atlantis. She's been wandering the world ever since the fall, trying to stop the threats humanity doesn't know about. She has a lot of mechanical and magical upgrades but the most noticeable is that her skin is replaced with power armor below her neck. She's on break right now and is a bit burnt out. She's a rather nostalgic person, and scares rather easily after all these years. She'll probably ask to be help despite the fact she's probably taller than you.

4 the dragon: a massive dragon with seven heads and great black wings whose been guarding a hoard of ancient treasure for six million years. Despite his appearance ge's very nice to humans as long as they're respectful of him. He's the type who'll want to tell you puns or make you food if he likes you. Unfortunately for any intimacy he can't shape-shift so he'll have to be very gentle with you.

5 the demon: it's specifically the type of demon that makes deals with people, useally for souls. Don't worry it's not going to try to take your soul, that's just work. It looks like a humanoid figure in a black suit with striking red eyes, the suit is actually part of its body, it doesn't even have organs under there just thick black shadows. It can be freindly, and very curious about the human world, but it doesn't have many positive experiences with humans and doesn't really get social rules or anything like that. It struggles with not really thinking of itself as a person with it's own rights and value.

6 the werewolf: a scientist (well actually a grad student) who studied werewolves who was bitten during their research process. They're really excited about their new transformation, and being in their wolf form feels good. Though they are a bit afraid of what can happen with them, and they don't know what triggers their transformation yet. Their werewolf form is a massive wolf like humanoid with black fur and bright yellow eyes. Their human form just looks like a regular person. They're very excited to meet someone whose accepting of them, and they're very talkative and enthusiastic to those who know them, despite being timid at first.

7 the fallen angel: a recently fallen angel. It doesn't seem like angels are even created by a god, they're just these interdimensional beings. This fallen angel has rather recently fallen due to getting too close to humans they were supposed to be studying, most scandalously: considering themselves male when most angels are considered above gender. He looks like a youthful slender humanoid, with a sexless body, and four bright blue wings. Golden cracks have been forming on his skin since the fall. He still hasn't unlearned everything from being with the angels for millenia, so he can act rather regal and princely. But he has a deep love for humanity most angels don't have, and is deeply saddened by what happened, and probably needs some comfort right now.

8 the slasher: technically a demon but he doesn't really hang out with other demons. He looks like a young man wearing a pale mask that doesn't ever come off. He was hired by the winter fae to kill humans in their sacred woods but really he just likes killing. He enjoys killing and doesn't really have a human idea of morals, and thinks of it as a sort of art, but he'll probably think of you as diffrent if he's pack bonded with you, probably becoming really protective of you. He rarely speaks, and he's probably more comfortable using sign language or aac in public.

9 the witch: an ancient witch whose been studying magic for centuries, though her body remains young and beautiful, though she's quite sallow and underweight. She gouged out her eyes in a ritual that allowed her to see into planes beyond this reality, giving her knowledge that makes her somewhat detached from the rest of humanity. She tends to be rather quiet and aloof, though freindly, and she'll probably be a bit suprised to receive affection from a human. She'll probably want to tell you about her studies and hyperfixations a lot.

10 the ghost: the ghost of a knight banished from the afterlife after cursing the gods of death. He's mournful and very sensitive. When he manifests he appears as he did at the time of death, with his armor still on, and arrows piercing his chainmail. He'll be very devoted to you, but is very heartbroken that he can never actually touch your body the way a human would. Mabye he can possess you for short amounts of time to make up for it.

11 the slime: a strange creature found at the edge of time, appearing as a mass of black ooz that can take any form. It's considered loyalty amoung lesser slime, even among the smallest of jelly. It doesn't seem to talk but is incredibly intelligent and mysterious, and has been known to take certain forms inorder to manipulate people. The form it likes taking around humans is a cartoonish female humanoid is a puffy dress, we don't know why.

12 the void: under no circumstances should you try to romance to void. It's quite hazardous and you won't be human after becoming a bride/groom of the void.

[rs-hawk]

Dragon Girlfriend

WLW Romance Smut

Part Two

Part One

Your roommate seems to hoard a lot of random things. She has boxes full of old books that make her room smell like the reference section of a library. Jewelry boxes overflowing with golden chains and silver rings, gems and jewels studded randomly throughout, cover her dresser and nightstand. Her closet is stuffed to the brim with designer clothes and paintings that look like they could pay rent on the apartment for a decade lean against her wall, not just hang on it.

You do your best to avoid her room because sometimes the way she looks at you makes you feel like she wants to add you to her collection. Keep you in a box for her own enjoyment. A shudder creeps down your spine if you think about it for too long.

One day, you can’t avoid it though, and tentatively knock on her door. “Hey Roomie. Sorry to bother you, but do you have your half of the rent? It’s due tomorrow so…,” you trail off awkwardly after she invites you inside.

“Of course I have it. Have I ever been late?” she scoffs from where she sits cross legged on her bed, playing with something you’re having a hard time identifying.

After a few moments, you ask, brows creased and a frown pressed to your lips, “Are you trying to get a knot out of a gold chain?” She nods, letting out a grunt as well, though for some reason it sounds more like a growl. “Here, I can help.”

You offer your hand to her, palm up. Expecting her to place the cool metal chain into your hand, you’re caught off guard with how warm it is when eventually (and reluctantly) she does. Your fingers instinctively curl around it, as if desperate for the warmth. However, you regain yourself quickly before easily working the knot out with your slender fingers.

“And there we go,” you grin, handing the chain back to her.

Her bright green eyes light up as she examines is, clearly pleased by your work. “You did it,” she basically purrs, the sound causing blood to rush to your face.

“Yeah. You’re welcome,” you mutter, looking away. “Um, anyway yeah, just get me your half of the rent when you can.”

She looks back up at you, her head slightly cocked. “Come here.”

You hesitate, but then sit on the edge of her bed, stuff as a board. Her thick fingers drape the chain you just untangled across your neck, clasping it and letting it nestle down into your skin. Your breath catches in your throat as her hot breath works over your skin.

“It looks better on you than sitting in a box,” she whispers, the words making your stomach knot.

“Thanks,” you manage to choke out, feeling her fingers linger around your throat. That paired with the proximity of her lips is making your brain fuzzy.

[shorthaltsjester]

It is such a bizarre choice to not have Vex see Percy forgive Ripley. The scene of her talking to him about forgiveness and how it is the only way to grow and how she carved it on Fenthras was such a good scene. Idk if they will still include it in another form now. Not to mention Percy says he forgave Ripley for himself, not for her.

no i doubt they will. and being honest i think this stems from choices they made in s1 with vex’s character that have just echoed down consequences because tlovm vex doesn’t really have anything she has to forgive herself for. she certainly has an ill-built sense of self, but it isn’t based in an actual flaw re: she is not responsible for her mother’s death but she was in fact a thief and frequently selfish during the campaign. but in s1, vex wasn’t really morally questionable in that way, she was just standoffish and cold and dependent on vax. for understandable reasons, she didn’t steal the broom, but she also has no history that’s disclosed to the audience of killing (even in self defense) or stealing and even her gold hoarding is like. one shot in the second episode when they’re fleeing from a dragon hoard. so then it’s hard to have vex be a character where forgiving herself is the sticking point rather than correcting her sense of self. in the campaign it was both because you couldn’t extract her greed (hunger) and self-interest from the fact that she was deeply scarred by her fathers insistence that she could never be enough.

but in the show at every chance they’ve limited vex to having low self-esteem which is fine, but does i think lessen the interest of a character like her if the basis of that low self-esteem is only her trauma and self-defence versus the more. call it self-offence that she did in the campaign. and i think that echoes into the relationship with percy. overall i’ve liked more than i’ve disliked with this version of perc’ahlia, but i do think there was a ramp up in s2 of feeling that hadn’t necessarily been shown developing (time limits time limits 😔) that much, and part of that is the lack of percy and vex reacting to each other being shitty people with hearts in their eyes. because they could both see the pain that was hiding under their shitty actions but were also just. find of the person doing the shitty actions. and ultimately i’ve kind of cut my loses with the level of like. snarky to each other while also being obviously in love and gross about it without ever admitting it to each other because they both have “How Could Someone Like That Ever Love Someone Like Me” complexes but i think im a bit more :( about the aspects of the characters that were truly just like. not good and not clean and not easily dealt with if dealt with at all that didn’t survive it into tlovm. like percy is truly not a good person (he’s not a Bad one either). like he does many many good actions, but he also is very willing to do horrible, horrible things in the name of what he vows to protect. and vex never really sheds the mask she learned to wear. there are people she allows to see through it but it stays for the entirety of c1 and some of matt’s choices suggest it’s something he echoes in portraying her in c3

anyway tldr. i agree about deeply missing the forgiveness percy and vex scene, even beyond the perc’ahlia of it all, it is one of my favourite cr scenes across all the campaigns, but unfortunately is one i’ve suspected to have been cut since tlovm’s version of saundor. i have the most naive of hopes that maybe i’ll be surprised but honestly i think i’d just be more questioning what the point of including that scene without earning it would be.

[toxooz]

i'm sure you've described them before but i can't find anything on it so, could you describe the skate squad's powers if they have any?

idk if would say powers moreso just abilities BUT

Ponti with his HUGE ARMS can smash rip tear crunch squish impale ect. his bigass tail can put a hurtin too he can easily hold down a body under there, His ears can hear for miles if he really focuses, and finally his infamous death roll which is basically a gator death roll where they latch onto a limb and twirl tf outta their body

Abios eye has a bunch of phycological powers (oops) and can infiltrate the frontal lobe and get into someones head, see memories (spoiler alerttttttt 👀👀), and can manipulate feelings by controlling the brains chemical production, and probably a lot of other cool brain stuff i gotta get back on my neuroscience im rusty 😔 his eyelashes also emit pheromones that aid in all his succubs stuff but its close range

Ollie n his big brute strength ofc the fact that orcs are naturally super buff n strong but also his demon features where he does the thing similar to Gandalf when he makes the room all dark and terrifying when he's not fuckin around (it was heavily inspired by that) Ollie can make a room go cold and dark from his '''aura'' for lack of better word. His presence gives you the same chills as seeing a ghost and makes you hallucinate ect. That why when he does that ppl typically get too caught up in their body's fight or flight overdrive to be able to think clearly. I'd like to think he gives off Large Animal presence like as if u were in front of a horse or lion and that feeling is amplified when hes indoors lmfao AND he can also 'get in the head' as well like he can say some demonic shit that echoes off of the inside of the skull and can shake the very core of the soul (probably sounds like Sauron in tha head)

Kariiii has her dragon fire that's super hot and glittery so she can be a lil master of illusion if she wants. I'm thinking abt giving her gecko hands n feet so maybe she can climb on walls too if not she can still climb with her wing claws. She can lick her eyeballs and shes also got some fairy pizzaz that kinda works like a special 'aura' as well. She does have a hoarding pink things problem but she makes sure its at least presentable for the most part pfft

Remy oh bOI he doesn't have much goin for him but i think hes kinda got what Ollie's got just to a miniscule extent like he can make the room feel uneasy if he's all sulky and angsty but its only enough to mildly scare or irritate not so much 'strike fear into the hearts of men' cause hes also got that everlasting shadow over the eyes

he can climb like a monkey with his tail ( so can Abby) so ig he's rlly good at parkour

Oscar's got his slime that can be a blessing or a curse when it comes to sticky situations and in the water he's kinda a menace he is SUPER agile and uses his ears for fins when he swims. He's got a 2nd jaw in his mouth for grabbing prey and those teeth carry a nasty bite

Vinny may be soft n fluff but he's also got his lil needle claws and teeth and can be really flexible and agile as well cause son cats WILL fuck u up when theyre angry

[desertdollranch]

This is Jasmine, my new I'm A Girly doll.

I'm A Girly is a brand based in Switzerland that sells their dolls in multiple countries. In North America, their dolls are sold through Amazon and Target. They're also notable for involving kids in their product development, as well as a commitment to reducing waste or other practices harmful for the environment. In the above picture, Jasmine is showing how her box unfolds into a cute little closet backdrop.

It appears that Jasmine is no longer being sold by any retailer, international or domestic. I had my heart set specifically on Jasmine and didn't want anyone else, and had to track her down on eBay. The seller still has a few dolls available in their listing for a decent price, for those of you who might be interested.

Another thing that makes I'm A Girly dolls distinct is their wigs. They are designed to be easily removable and interchangeable, and kids are encouraged to cut the wig shorter if they want. I actually already moved her wig to give her a side part, since with a center part it does kind of tend to fall into her face, and it looks cuter clipped up like this. But overall this is a marvelous wig. It's so soft and the curls are bouncy.

That groove is where the hairline of the wig fits into, and then it ties snugly in the back. Other wigs are sold separately. Currently there aren't any available on Amazon or Target's site. Good thing I have an absolute dragon's hoard of doll wigs....... you know how it is.

Her head is similar in size to an American Girl doll's head, so she can wear their wigs too, including this TM 116 wig. But since it doesn't tie on, it does slip off her head easily, so if I wanted to change her wig often then I'd invest in a little silicone wig cap. (btw I am selling this pink and purple wig, so hit me up if you want it).

And as cute as this one is, I don't think I'll do much changing around, since I love her original wig.

And here's Isabelle wearing it. The fit isn't great, but if I were wanting this permanently on her it would probably be okay once glued down.

I'm A Girly dolls have fully vinyl bodes that are a bit skinnier than AG dolls, so sharing clothes is a hit or miss. Mine is wearing denim shorts that I made for my slim dolls, but her purple shirt here is American Girl brand. Shoes are a pretty close fit too. She did come with her original purple dress and silver glittery sandals, I promise.... I just set them down somewhere and can't remember where.

(I'm going to have to come up with a unique hashtag for her here since I do already have a mini baby named Jasmine. I really don't mind having repeated names in my collection and neither do my dolls.)

[lottiesnotebook]

Hiii and happy Friday! How about "Sweetheart? Darling? Light of my life? What the *fuck*?" for Luna/Morrigan? ☺️

Oh you understand their vibe PERFECTLY! Here's some post-canon domestic fluff, featuring baby Kieran and only a little bit of angst.

(Compatible with The Kick Inside but you only really need to know that Kieran has two mums)

Luna Tabris/Morrigan, domestic fluff, parenting

@celemee | @dadrunkwriting

care and feeding of infant gods

Morrigan worried, at first, about leaving Luna alone with Connor. Not because she was at all irresponsible - she was far more versed in attending to the needs of infants than Morrigan had ever been - but because she could never quite make herself believe that after everything they'd both been through, Luna Tabris, Hero of Ferelden, the darling of the Denerim alienage, had chosen to chase her through an eluvian rather than live without her. It still surprised her, sometimes, to wake in the morning and find Luna still curled around her like a dragon around her hoard, Kieran nestled between them and making cheerful infant noises.

But even now, there was still something wild in her nature, and while she could enjoy the home her lover made of their camps in the Crossroads, after too long, she felt almost constrained by the quiet, the soft ribbons of domesticity braiding into a leash or stiffening into a cage. At times like that, when she became wild-eyed and snappish, paced the camp as though it was a cell, Luna would miraculously recall some ruins she'd mentioned wanting to visit, or a glyph she'd seen on a stone the previous day, and chase her out to attend to it while she remained at camp with their growing boy, 'making up for lost time', as she put it.

The mention of that time lost was more than enough to chase her out of the camp, even without her restlessness. She did not like to think of such things, of Luna's hollow-eyed features, of how she'd refused to set the child down for weeks after they'd been reunited. Now she was as Morrigan remembered, sharp and witty and growing plump from good eating despite the strangeness of their travels, but then… she did not like to think of then. To think of then gave her such pointless emotions as guilt, and worry that one day, her sweet Seluna might perform a similar trick on her - that she'd return to their camp to find no lover and no child, and a cold trail to follow into the dark. It had not happened so far, and to fret over something she could not easily prevent was pointless, and yet… Trust had never come easily to her, and worry quickened her steps back to the camp today.

They'd bedded down in a ruined hall that boasted a roof held up by tall, vaulting columns, and it was a relief when she stepped into its shadows to see Luna's silvery hair caught in a beam of light from above. Less of a relief when Luna caught a glimpse of her and placed her hands on her hips.

"Sweetheart," she called, which was not on its own ominous, "darling," two endearments, definitely bad news, "light of my life-" a part of her considered fade-stepping out of the hall to avoid whatever trouble she was suddenly in. "What the fuck?"

"Luna," she greeted her in turn, taking her hands both out of affection and to prevent them going to her knives. "What troubles you? Where is Kieran."

"No," Luna said, firmly, "I asked first. What the fuck, Morrigan?"

She pulled a hand away to gesture to the blanket she usually laid out for Kieran to play on during the day, where he would lie on his stomach and scrabble amusingly for toys she laid out to entice him.

Currently, there was no long-limbed almost-toddler kicking his feet impatiently on the blanket. Currently there was, in fact, the roundest, fattest bearcub she had ever seen, making wobbly attempts at approaching them.

Morrigan began to laugh, then crouched to scoop him into her arms. "My, you are precocious, aren't you?" she cooed. He was far heavier like this than he was as a mortal infant, which was unsurprising, but she took great delight in his thick, soft fur, the solid layer of shield-fat beneath it. She worried, sometimes, that for all his long limbs, he did not put on weight as a baby animal should, but clearly this was not a problem.

"Precocious?" Luna folded her arms. "You expected this?"

"Not this early," she replied, feeling him nestle into her shoulder. "Young mages usually do not come into their power before they can talk, but of course, a child with the soul of a god might come into them early."

"Can he turn back?" she demanded.

"Of course!" Morrigan rolled her eyes. "I cannot hold a bear's form after I fall asleep, and he is an infant. He will revert to his usual state before long, you need not fret."

"Fretting," Luna muttered, leaning in to scratch his perfect little ears. "I'll show you fretting. You're not the one who has to try and feed him later."

Her laughter rang through the hall, joined by the soft chuffs of a baby bear, until Luna silenced it with a begrudging kiss.

[deathmetalunicorn1]

You know, I’ve been using plenty of Greek monsters lately for asks, let’s switch to the Norse! (PS you are amazing with the responses)

Fafnir was once a dwarf whose father was a famous sort of dwarven king or blacksmith I’m not entirely certain but that’s not the important part

Fafnir had this brother who could transform into an otter, who was killed and skinned by three of the Aesir gods, Odin, Loki, and Honir

They presented the pelt to the father who immediately knew and imprisoned Odin and Honir for the transgression and tasked Loki that the only way to make up for it is to find enough treasure to fill the pelt with

Loki being Loki fills it with cursed treasure and after the three gods left Fafnir was driven mad by the treasure and killed his own father for the treasure and fled into the woods where he guarded it jealously, the curse whispering in his ear that his last remaining brother (although in some interpretations Odin was the one who gave the gold)

The curse twisted and transformed Fafnir into a fearsome dragon and he hoarded the treasure until he was killed by Siegfried (Also known as Sigurd)

Now In Valhalla and freed from the madness of the curse and has the ability to transform between his dwarf and dragon form and he wants revenge against the god who gave the cursed treasure that turned him mad

It can be Loki or Odin but he fights one of them

My request is what is Fafnir! Reader’s relationship with the Valkyries (especially Brunhilde), the Einherjar and what his fight with either Loki or Odin is like

-It had been so long, so many years since you had been able to think so clearly, the curses that had befallen you no longer affecting your mind.

-Now in Valhalla, you could easily look at gold or other items that would be considered ‘treasure’ and just walk away from it, no longer trying to maim others to get it, to hoard it for your own.

-The only thing that did stay was your much taller side, as you were able to turn into a dragon at will. You were relieved and happy to be able to return to your original form as a dwarf, but there has been a few times when you needed to put some cocky gods and humans both, in their place.

-What better way than for them to be looking up at a dragon with rows of razor-sharp teeth, huge claws, and the ability to breathe fire.

-You took up blacksmithing, creating not only weapons but armor as well, to honor your father, as way to beg for his forgiveness for killing him so long ago, even if you weren’t in the right state of mind.

-Your skills grew and soon your works were highly prized around Valhalla, those who would use weapons wanted yours specifically, as the craftsmanship in your work was rarely rivaled.

-The valkyries were your most frequent customers, but you were happy to help them, making them new armor, new weapons, and new tools, and as they didn’t go gentle, training hard, they were the best ones to get feedback from on what to do better next time.

-The younger valkyries didn’t come to you as often for weapons, as they didn’t train or fight like the older ones, but they still came to you, to watch you work, asking you all sorts of questions.

-It was the older valkyries that you did the most business with, Thrud and Brunnhilde the most, as they were the strongest of the bunch, Thrud definitely, you were making her a new weapon almost every other week, mainly for her to try.

-It wasn’t that your work was weak, your weapons were the strongest in Valhalla, but when training, Thrud never held back, to train herself even more, and even the strongest of your weapons couldn’t handle the amount of abuse she put them under.

-Brunnhilde was very respectful of you, as she knew your legend, how you killed your father after your brother was killed and you were cursed by Loki from the cursed treasure, turning into a dragon, and then later killed by Siegfried.

-She respected your hard work and respected that you were willing to do business with them and many of the other Norse gods.

-You didn’t mind, you had no issues with any of them, the only ones you had issues with were Loki, Odin, and Honir, who killed and disrespected your brother and your father, then drove you to madness.

-You refused to do business for them, something that angered them greatly, but they held no power over your skills, over you, not anymore.

-Brunnhilde approached you when Ragnarok was announced and you couldn’t help but beam, asking her what kind of weapons she wanted, and she surprised you by speaking, “I want you to fight.”

-You were a warrior, that much was true, but knew there were many other warriors, ones who were far stronger than you, until she said that both Loki and Odin were going to fight.

-You had hesitated, not really sure if you wanted revenge, but the more you thought about it, the more you desired to make them pay for their actions.

-Brunnhilde gave you the choice of your opponent, as you were fighting for her, for humanity, and it was back and forth for a moment before you made you decision, you wanted to fight Loki.

-The other Einherjar were impressed with your skills, making weapons for those who wanted them, like Jack who was amazed by the quality, and Kojiro was in awe as he inspected the katana you had made, which you found enjoyable.

-You knew the valkyries were going to be forming with the humans to make Holy Weapons, so many didn’t need on, which you weren’t bothered by.

-You were the only one to refuse a Völundr, since you were half dragon, you were considered a demi-god, and thus you were able to take care of business yourself.

-When you walked out, holding a two-handed axe over your shoulder, Loki snickered, seeing you there, thinking it was a joke, “Oh~ are you here to get revenge little dwarf~?”

-Your eyes flashed at his tease as the match started and you grinned darkly, shifting into your dragon form, “WHAT DO YOU THINK?!”

-Jaws were dropped, seeing you turn into a dragon, some thought it would damn you, as you couldn’t move fast, being so large, but you quickly proved them wrong, easily dodging Loki’s attacks.

-You slammed him down with your tail before you shifted back, holding your axe, glaring down at him, “If you had not been deceitful, trickster, and did as my father had asked, you may have faced a different opponent, one that you could have won against.”

-You gave him a quick death, separating his head from his shoulders before you walked out, grinning as the cheers were deafening around you.

-You felt lighter now, like you had honored your brother and father, some of your guilt vanishing.

-You returned to your forge to continue making your goods, relaxing as you smiled into the flames, finally feeling peace.

[selfproclaimedunicorn]

🌧️🪨&📚 for roycegaryens and evyn waters?

My babies 🩷

🌧️ What is the favorite thing for you OC to do on a rainy day?

Ella would be going stir crazy because most of her hobbies are outdoors, lol. Once she calmed down though, I do think she'd probably just curl up with something she's been meaning to embroider and hang out like that with Robert or Shireen or one of her cousins' wives, or Yorick if he had the time!

Yorick likes reading. He was Grandpa Yorbert's little bookwyrm & my man stays in the library. He was never a big creative type like Ella, but he still loved (& continues to love) stories. If it was a rainy day & all his lordly duties were done, he'd just hang out in his solar with a book, either for himself or for his kids. Reading to his kids is time spent as well as the time that could have been spent on reading something for himself.

Aemon, like Ella, would be going a little stir crazy, I also think it would take him longer to settle. Truth be told, I really think a day where it just rained would see him taking a nap. He didn't intend to take a nap, he just ran out of tasks he could do for Yorick & the weather is bad enough he can't train or go flying or do much outside really so maybe he'll just recline here in this comfy chair in front of the fire & oh no now he's snoring. Very "a dad saying he's gonna rest his eyes for 10 minutes" coded. Aemon proceeds to wake up not knowing what month it is & with at least one niece or nephew on top of him.

Evyn, similarly to Aemon, thinks he needs to spend his rainy day doing things for other people. And, generally, he keeps pretty busy since he's Yorick’s personal steward. I think, though, if he had the extra time to spare, he'd probably join in on whatever game the kids' were playing because "they needed an adult for this role" & he likes seeing them just get to be little kids. It's something neither he or Yorick really had, so he's sort of charmed by it now. He'd also definitely sneak a bunch of snacks from the kitchens & bring them to people he likes best & see if he could sneak back out of the room without being noticed, y'know like some kind of snack fairy.

🪨 Someone gifts your OC a shiny rock. What do they do with it?

Ella just kinda looks at the giver very confused, yes even if they're a child. Children are at least spared the question "what did you give me this for?" because the child probably just thought it was a really nice rock. She probably playfully chucks it at someone later.

Yorick is giving a very similar reaction. Confused staring, a confused little "thank you." He just sorta puts it back on the ground when whoever gave it to him isn't looking anymore.

Aemon goes full Fantasy Dwarf Mode. He craves the rock like he craves the mountains. He's keeping that rock forever, you're gonna find it somewhere in his bedroom later. New cool thing for his figurative dragon hoard now!

Evyn, bless him, he is equal parts confused & grateful. Loves getting gifts, he likes things, forever thankful of whoever gave him A Gift. But also, this is a rock & what is he gonna do with it? He assumes this is some obscure Vale Thing no one's told him about &, similarly to Aemon, just puts it in his room somewhere. When he realizes/gets told "this is not an obscure tradition," he takes it from whatever shelf it was on & puts it in a drawer, he forgets about this rock 2 days later.

📚 Your OC has to improvise a 10 minute lecture about a topic of their choosing. What do they chose?

Ella is giving you a lecture about Old Valyria, if it will only be 10 minutes (or make any sense) is up for debate.

Yorick is just going to recount the story of The Winged Knight. He could just as easily talk about something like infrastructure or the upkeep of a feudal holding or, like, taxes, but those aren't really crowd pleasers & if he wants you to pay attention he's not going to whip those out.

Do you know much about arms & armor? Would you like to? Because that is what Aemon is going to tell you about, you can't stop him. He's ending his 10 minute lecture with a description of his dream armor.

Evyn doesn't super like having a lot of undivided attention, so he would just panic & probably start info dumping people's business from his time working in The Red Keep. It doesn't matter that he's telling you these people's business because he doesn't live there anymore & some of this info is outdated now anyway, it's fine. Pay no attention to the fact he's telling you his former boss's personal business.

[specksizedgoddess]

Another suggestion story, this one from the lovely @forrest-fox-0w0 , I can't thank you enough darling <3

THIS STORY CONTAINS: Very desperate mousegirls meeting gluttonous dragon girls, vore, and a LOT of awakenings~

This... this wasn't part of the plan. It was simple! Sneak in while the goliath was sleeping, grab as much as the little mousegirl could carry in her paws, and run like hell- easier said then done. Now, trembling, backing up slowly- the clinking of metal echoed in the cavern as the enormous dragon before her shifted.

"So. A thief, are you?"

The tiny rodent yelped. The dragon's voice was deep and commanding, every word sending a shiver down the poor mouse's back. With every word, her scales seemed to shift and gleam, the small beams of light that managed to worm their way into the cavern reflecting into multicoloured rays- it would incredible, breathtaking, even, if the mousegirl had been here for any other reason.

"N- no! Well, yes, but-"

"Hey, hey. Calm down. I'm not mad. As a matter of fact... I'm happy to have some company here. It's just been so long~"

The enormous reptile yawned, her morning breath rushing over the trembling pipsqueak before her.

"That being said... crime can't go unpunished, now can it? Tell me, darling- do you know what I do to thieves? To anyone dumb or brave enough to take even a single shining coin from my hoard?"

The mousegirl shook her head. The relief she had felt immediatelly leaving as she began to process what she meant.

"Mmmm~ then you're in for a suprise, cutie!"

Plucked up easily between two talons, the scruff of her neck pinched as she was lifted up, up to her captor's face... deep, soft eyes dug into her, her snout huffing as if it had a mind of it's own, and her mouth... split into a sharp, toothy grin, dull fangs wiped over as the beast licked it's lips- massive tongue pooling with saliva as it polished teeth, and when it was done... sneaking out like a serpent to get a taste of the rodent. Soft fur now damp, matted in where it had connected- just the tip of her tongue was enough to paint her upper body with drool...

"Mmm. Well, I was hoping for breakfast, but I don't think you'll make much of a meal. Oh well~"

The mousegirl was entranced by the maw as it opened wider, eagerly placed onto the tongue, warm breath running over her, just inches away from fangs that threatened to tear her in two- her little paws, now slick with saliva as she but her lips. God, what was wrong with her?

And that throat. Pulsing, gently, warmly, BEGGING to be fed- the little mouse took a small step towards it, eliciting a small chuckle from the dragon.

"Someone's eager! Buh bye, little thief!

Every syllable shifted her positioning, lathering her in spit and drool- those lips shut behind, sealing her in warm, comforting darkness. The tongue poked and prodded, pushing her gently around the dragon's mouth... trailing over her, small yelps muffled by the shut lips- it was too much.

But it wouldn't last much longer.

A loud, resounding gulp echoed around the little rodent as she was dragged near the throat. She had to stop herself from flinging herself in voluntarily- fuck, it was so tempting- all those thoughts of thievery and riches now long gone as she fantasized. Another gulp, and she was on her way.

Powerful, slick muscles dragged her deeper and deeper. The heat grew more and more intense, like a sauna as she was pulled deeper... deeper... deeper... until she reached her destination. A bubbling pool of stomach acid caught her fall as she scrambled against the slick inner walls of her captor- suprisingly not painful, just... numb. If anything, soaking in those juices felt good... the soothing heartbeat echoing around her, gurgles ringing in her ears as she stopped struggling... god, it was nice. The mousegirl blushed, biting her lip as she looked down~ sure enough, she was VERY "exited". Surely the dragon wouldn't know if she... y'know... got her energy out-

The dragongirl knew. A grin on her face as she rubbed her stomach, a playful gurgle murmuring back as she chuckled.

"Having fun in there?"

Maybe the real treasure were the snacks we made along the way <3

[velvetwarfare]

omg recent events has me excited to finally deep dive into the topic of ✨ obsession ✨ concerning betty

So!! Here’s a fucking lore dump for you lovely freaks.

Vampiric obsession is one of my favorite traits to portray because it’s simultaneously a blessing and a curse to have a vampire select you as their muse.

- Vampiric obsession can manifest on just about anything. A person, an object, multiple people, etc. Once they latch onto it, it’s essentially going ‘my precious’ . If someone fucks w said object or people, they are more than likely going to die in a very tragic manner.

- Vampires are TERRITORIAL, VICIOUS, AND ADDICTS. What’s theirs is theirs. They will rate whatever they want whenever they please and they will fight bloody tooth and nail for their ‘property’. Nosferatu in particular are all of these — just amplified.

That’s what Betty is. A nosferatu strand. Nosferatu are uncommon and defective for the most part — as most vampires are more tame and human in nature, as opposed to the nosferatu who resemble animals and depend on their feral nature.

So. Think of a mama bear protecting her cubs. A dragon hoarding her gold. Now think of said bear mauling several people limb from limb. A dragon scorching whoever dares to touch her gold. That’s how Betty’s obsession functions.

- “Love turns into hungry obsession, while friendship becomes bitter jealousy. In place of emotion, vampires pursue physical symbols of what they crave, so that a vampire seeking love might fixate on a young beauty. Ones fascinated with power and control may seek to create a vast host of thralls. Others surround themselves with art, books, or sinister items such as torture devices or trophies from creatures they have killed.”

- Having her as an obsessed ally is a blessing because she’s going to be willing to do just about ANYTHING for approval and love. The chances of her committing treason is very low. She will kill for you — friend or foe, it doesn’t matter. She’s willing to drop someone at a single moment’s notice if her muse deems it necessary. You now have your own person attack dog.

Should the muse own her soul, they by proxy also own the beast. The beast will not attack the muse and acts as an even worse body guard. Congrats.

- But this also comes with the consequences.

It’s obsession. She’ll get envious very easily of other people. Might start saying ‘you’re mine’ and get extremely defensive over it. Very clingy, very attached, overwhelming.

It’s common for her to want to mark her muse up — masked as sexual appetite, she just wants to brand them as her own and feel the satisfaction of securing that property. Muses are both seen as property and a person.

- She’ll remember you in every life. Obsessions need to be personally broken — she has to choose to let the muse go. Killing her will not do it in.

Think of Strahd from curse of strahd. His obsession with Tatyana literally extended to all of her reincarnations and he attempted to woo each one — and murder anyone around her that tried to keep her from him. That’s the best source you’ll get for vampiric obsession and how Betty’s mindset works. The only way he broke that obsession was by either making that mental decision to let her go or get killed permanently.

But hey! If you’re a lover of hers and you like that sick shit, you got someone who’s going to spend eternity with you and will always stay loyal!

[theladycarpathia]

WIP Wednesday - Editing prompt

Hey, I’m late again. Like nearly two days late. FOR SHAME.

So people on varying Hellcheer Discords will know that I’ve been having a lot of trouble with chapter three of And My Waves Meet Your Shore. The rest of the chapter came out so easily and there was this one scene that I have been running into walls with for weeks. 

The whole chapter is a combination of Chrissy’s past and how she ended up on the Hellfire combined with a little of where she is now, feeling at home with the crew and their captain. And there was one scene THAT I COULD NOT MAKE WORK. It was terrible. It was boring. It waffled. I knew I was going to have to cut it but that left me with the dreaded problem of finding something to replace it. I could have just removed it but I felt that would leave a gap. 

It was @staceymcgillicuddy who solved my problem. I scrapped it and changed POV. And the rewrite is going well of what I’ve managed so far! We see so much of Chrissy that actually Eddie’s side of things was the fresh perspective that I needed to make it interesting. 

I’m also editing all of my oneshots for Hellcheer week! (and furiously finishing one or two, we won’t discuss that.)

Have a chunk of a good part of the upcoming chapter of my pirate au!

***

“Don’t I get a description?” she asks, curling up her fingers. Her bag is tucked down her sleeve and she’s suddenly glad that she took the precaution. She’s not used to being unable to trust the people around her.

“Young man in a pirate’s hat,” the man says, lazily. “Really can’t miss him. Off you pop.”

Chrissy takes a deep breath and decides that the fight isn’t worth it. She has to find Captain Munson. Steve had found out that the Hellfire was only due to stop in Hawkins for a very short time, and she has to hope that his intel is correct. There is no other option for her.

She makes her way through the crowded tables, the hoards of drunk patrons and more than once she has to slip out of the way of a grasping hand. She feels as though she’s wandering further into a dragon’s den and that any moment the open maw may snap shut around her, trapping her inside.

But then she spots a table tucked into the corner, its occupant only just hidden by the wall of the booth. But resting in front of him on the table is a very large black hat, decorated with a grand feather.

She stops short, suddenly a little afraid. Despite Steve’s assurances that Captain Munson is a good man, she is not sure of the measure of it when that man is also a pirate. 

But in the end, a good man and a pirate means more than the man waiting for her at home. So she pulls herself up straight, licks her lips, and steps forward.

***

If you’re thinking that sounds a bit familiar, you’d be right. The end of the chapter leads into the first chapter where Chrissy finds Eddie in the Hawk and Dog. 

But if you want to know how she got there, you’ll have to wait until I kick the rest of the chapter into shape. 

[restrained-by-society]

One-word sentences were ripe for the imagination to pluck from the tree of thought, to pretend what was lingering after it. Cleric was what, forward? Obtrusive? Handsome? All true, but was it one of those or some fourth thing? Or was it all of them? Cleric hated one-word sentences because they didn't give him anything to chew on. There were too many options, and the greedy, empty bastard wanted all of them. He wanted to be called, wanted to be given established titles from strangers, a lasting memory from gasping blue lips or through a blood bubble coughed up from the throat in a curse of damnation. A name moaned through perspiring skin under sheets, a compliment, an insult. Neither, both, more, all.

A dragon hoarding whatever he could get his claws on.

He wanted everything, including this stranger's attention, all of it; just for him, a starving, pampered fiend. So his mother would fondly call him, stroking her spider-like fingers through his tousled hair. The stranger was giving him his attention, having pulled it from their shared disdain for public antiquities (which was a lie effortlessly hummed through lips that never seemed to part at the corners, not quite). He was giving Cleric attention and the artist's eyes seemed to glitter when the stranger formally invited him to share drinks, as well. "You don't need to ask. I'll share anything you want with you." He replied. "But only you." Sharp blue eyes darted to the rest of the tall stranger's company, pointed, suggesting that he wasn't about to give any of those other busybodies the time of day. "Do you not think you're worth celebrating?"

The look was brief, never straying from the stranger's face for long when it left; he was receiving attention and so he would return it in kind. Superficial, yes, but not fake. He loved and lost just as easily, the two terms interwoven like everything that contrasted. "Cleric." He introduced. "A fitting name to save a soul, wouldn't you say?"

"You're..." He paused. Flirt. He thought, pressing his tongue firmly against his molars as he studied the stranger who, while he was a handsome guy, didn't seem all too interested in wooing anyone. At least, that was what his body language said, his choice of clothes. Long sleeves, a certain carefulness. But he could tell the other was not just anyone from the way he carried himself, important and by the look of it, meticulous. There's an appeal to that, to the discretion of it all.

"Should I ask why you have such an interest for my celebration in particular," so he had picked up on his individualism. Good. "Are you going to watch me drink on my own, or do you intend to share that drink with me?" He wouldn't hate that at all. After all, there was already something near intimate in drinking from the same glass. While the other confessed to being partial to public celebrations, Ira averted his gaze, in faux chastity, to glance at his coworkers. He wasn't one for public anything either. Everything felt so much more comfortable in the secrecy of a closed room or alone in the wilderness : this was how he thrived, in the dark. "And I envy you for not having to endure those," he certainly didn't care for those evenings. Wouldn't he have felt so much better at home with either a book or a Tinder match in his hands? "Shall I know who is so eager to save me from my condition?" He had never said such a thing, but Ira was intrigued by the stranger, and drawn to find out more.

[cha-melodius]

Since this is the place to go when one has whacky AU ideas, let me share mine: TMFU fantasy AU where Illya is a galant, brave knight working for evil king Oleg. Oleg sends him on a quest to capture and bring back a mythical creature (I'm imagining a phoenix, but a dragon could work too), beacuse he wants to keep the creature in a cage and show it off to other kings and nobles. Plot twist, this mythical creature is Napoleon (let's say that he can change into human form too because he's magical and powerful). Gaby is a peasant and a part-time inventor from a remote village who joins Illya on his quest.

Oh, I like this one a lot (and I don't think it's that wacky, honestly)! I love magical creature!Napoleon who can change from human to creature form and back again. A phoenix, I see him preening all the time, being pretty vain about his feathers (and hating it whenever he goes up in flames and he has to grown it all out again lollll). Obviously dragon!Napoleon fits super well since he's a great lover of shiny things. You know he has the most fabulous hoard.

Gaby obviously hears about the quest and invites herself along, much to Illya's chagrin. He doesn't have time to be looking after civilians. Gaby of course scoffs at this, because she doesn't need protection. Her story is that she wants in some of the glory, but really she's worried about the quest. Maybe her father (who disappeared when she was young) told her about this magical creature, and how the creature was special, so she's actually tagging along partly so she can see/meet him, but also so that she can try to disrupt Illya's quest. Illya is conflicted because he wants to be very chivalrous to this lady (Gaby laughs a long time at that), but also he has to put up with this troublesome peasant who's making his life difficult.

There's a little town not far from the creature's lair, and Illya and Gaby stop there to stay in an inn. There, they meet a gorgeous, enthralling man with a sharp jaw and a sharper smile: Napoleon. (More under the cut, because this turned into a whole fairy tale.)

Illya is immediately taken with him, but he can't allow himself to be distracted from his quest. Napoleon isn't easily put off, though. He finds out what Illya's aim is and tells him he can help, offers to go with him. The last thing Illya wants is another tag-along, but he also finds it quite difficult to say no to Napoleon, which is how they all end up traveling together. Napoleon tells them stories about the creature (about how wonderful it is, naturally), and as they get closer Illya's misgivings about his quest grow. He never liked it from the beginning, the idea of caging some wild creature, but he likes it even less after hearing everything from Gaby and Napoleon.

Meanwhile, in the days it takes them to reach the creature's layer, Illya falls steadily more and more in love with Napoleon. How can he resist? Napoleon is vibrant and smart and funny and fucking stunning, and Illya doesn't stand a chance. So when, the night before they're due to reach the creature's lair, Napoleon just disappears, Illya loses it. He's distraught, thinking something happened to Napoleon, and he spends the next day searching for him to no avail. He thinks maybe Napoleon went after the creature himself for some reason, maybe he got into trouble, so Gaby and Illya finally go to the creatures lair. Of course, they find the ring that Napoleon was wearing there, along with the creature, and Illya goes off in a blind rage, thinking Napoleon is dead. He captures the creature, and it's only through Gaby's intercession that he doesn't kill it. Instead, he binds it using the magical rope he'd brought along that will prevent it from escaping or wielding any magic of its own.

The trip back is somber. Gaby tries several times to convince him not to turn the creature over to Oleg, but he won't hear it. For all he knows, this creature killed Napoleon. When they get back, Oleg is naturally delighted. The creature is put in its magic cage, Illya is lauded as a hero, and Gaby goes back to her inventions. There's a problem, though. The creature is fading. Becoming dull and lifeless, a mere shadow of its former glory. Illya finds himself visiting the creature, though he doesn't really know why. To try to find out what's wrong with it, he says, though that's not it. He mostly talks to the creature, because the creature can't speak and just listens. It's safe to talk about all the things he can't normally tell anyone. He tells the creature about growing up, how his father was imprisoned and how he owes Oleg for picking him out of the gutter. That's why he couldn't say no. He also ends up talking about Napoleon (he doesn't notice the creature perk up at this), and even confesses that he thinks he was in love with him.

Despite the fact that he still thinks the creature is responsible for Napoleon's death, he worries about it. He goes to Gaby, because she seemed to know a lot about it before. She convinces him to sneak her into the palace to see it, and the creature perks up again at her presence. Clearly it's this cage, she tells Illya, a creature like this isn't meant to be confined. That's what's killing it. Illya doesn't know what to do. He can't betray the man who gave him everything (even if that man also always treated him like dirt), and anyway the creature killed his love. Why should he help it? But he knows in his heart what he must do. He's the galant knight, after all. So he opens the cage, but by this point the creature is too weak to move. Illya carefully gathers the creature into his arms to carry it out. Once free of the spells that dampened its magic, the creature transforms back into Napoleon, right in Illya's arms (naked, of course, lol—creatures don't wear clothes!).

Illya is stunned, and thinks its some kind of trick at first, but Napoleon convinces him. He's still super weak from the confinement and not being able to use his magic, and so Illya takes him to his house at first. As Illya is nursing him back to health, Napoleon asks if what he said when he was talking to the creature was true. Illya tries to pretend he doesn't know what Napoleon is talking about, because he assumes that there's no way Napoleon can love him back, but of course that turns out not to be true! Napoleon fell in love with him immediately, which was the only reason he allowed himself to be captured in the first place: he couldn't hurt Illya, even to save himself.

Napoleon improves, but before too long Oleg finds them. He's enraged by the fact his creature is gone and he's convinced that the newcomer (Napoleon) is behind its escape (well, he's not wrong). Illya of course refuses to kill him, which makes Oleg even angrier, and he threatens to arrest Illya just like his father. Our intrepid trio have to flee for their lives. Fortunately, between Illya's strength, Gaby's cleverness, and Napoleon's magic, they don't have much trouble. They go back to Napoleon's lair to pick up as much of his hoard as they can, though they can't stay there because Oleg's people will be looking for them. Instead they decide to set out on their own to see more of the world, traveling from town to town and picking up odd jobs. Eventually they find someplace far from Oleg's kingdom to settle down and spend the rest of their lives (this kingdom is ruled by a sarcastic but kind king named Waverly).

And they all lived happily ever after.

[ronearoundblindly]

The Stark Legacy (9)

Ghosts, part of Book 1: Reality (see previous or series)

Summary: A fight leaves team members wounded.

Warnings: Short chapter of quick action fighting a slightly disturbing enemy. Paranormal horror for like three seconds. Rated Teen/Mature, so 15+ only, please.

CHAPTER NINE—June 2038

“This is some real Game of Thrones sh—” Tony was interrupted by a dirt zombie, as he dubbed them, lunging to eat his face. “Fresh out of brains. Please come back tomorrow for salisbury steak.”

“Only you could look at these things and think of food,” Falcon mumbled into his comms, flying high across the battlefield assessing the movements of hundreds, now thousands of temporarily animated bodies.

“Maximoff, you got any dragons?”

“Stark, you’re a child,” Wanda replied, ripping apart an entire group of demons with her mind and a graceful gesture.

Iron Man flew over to hover in front of her. “It’s so nice to be noticed.”

Bucky lifted his gun after reloading, back to back with Natasha. “Can I retire yet? I can’t take another twenty years of this.”

“I swear, Barnes, if you leave me with him…” Nat jumped headlong into a cluster of the evil dirt clods. The bodies broke apart easily enough, but the noise—their howling cries from hell—it was very disturbing. “Oh, god, it got in my mouth,” Nat spat.

“This feels like a video-game,” Peter Parker exclaimed joyously. “They’re not even scary.”

“Coming in hot,” Rhodes warned, peppering the flank with machine gun fire.

It all seemed so standard and even comfortable. This was their element, sass-fighting, and it made Tony almost happy to relinquish his considerable brain power entirely to wiping out these pitiful foes in the Siberian tundra.

“Anyone else feel that?” Wanda’s voice dropped. “Is that an earthquake?”

“Get ready,” Nat warned solemnly.

Now he could see it in flight, a visibly rolling, barren field beneath him, and a great hole collapsing in its center, glowing like lava.

“Falcon,” Tony yelled, launching to get Wanda out of the way.

“I’ve got him.” Sam Wilson swooped down to grab Spider-Man before the ground fell.

A massive blood-red body emerged from the crevice, thin and stretched to four times the size of a man. A starving form of bone and sinew that rose higher and higher as the earth fell away from the demons he commanded. They all had faces, souls of those who had left this world.

Surrounding Bucky and Nat were the ghostly victims of their assassinations. Men and women staring blankly at them while closing in. People they had already watched die, people daring them to do it again. Problematic politicians, clinging mistresses, rival businessmen, and one small figure Bucky didn’t recognize: a child, maybe a teenager. He heard Nat whisper beside him.

“It can’t be.”

Tony set Wanda down at a safe distance. He turned and began to say “what is that thing—” Then he saw his mother, gossamer and despairing. “Mom,” he breathed.

A flash of blue circled Wanda, slowing to stand in front of her and wink. “It’s not real, Stark. They’re not real.”

The great fiery figure let out a roar, flailing his gangly arms and spiked tail into the air. A hand clipped the EXO-7’s wing, crashing Sam and Peter into the ground among a crowd of souls. The mouths of every wraith unhinged to resonate the horrible shriek of their master.

Lightning struck.

“MEPHISTO,” Thor called, “you will leave this world and its people alone!”

Satan and his hoard replied with a cry, the specters all turned to attack the God of Thunder.

“I do not ask twice,” Thor threatened as the sparks began to dance around his body. The air turned electric, and no sooner had the ghosts sailed into the air to meet him than the field exploded with light and death.

[Ch 10: Wedding]

[Main Masterlist]